This is the festival rite celebrated by the Oak and Feather Grove at Yule, or Midwinter of 2003.
Prior to the ritual, Grove Leader(s) declare the intention of the rite before the Spirit of Place, Ancestors of Place, local Deity. Once acceptance of the rite is given, the ritual may go ahead.
As Oak and Feather Grove includes children, a circle is not often cast. To ensure that the rite is held with peaceful intention the grove, with joined hands, recites the Druid’s vow for as many times as necessary, until grove leaders are satisfied that there is peace.
The Grove gathers around a single candle in the dark.
The Druid Oath is recited by all.
We swear by peace and love to stand,
Heart to heart and hand to hand.
Mark, O spirit, and hear us now,
Confirming this our sacred vow.
To enable focus and as a signal to ritual mode, the Druid’s prayer is recited by all grove members.
Grant, O spirit, thy protection
and in protection, Strength
And in Strength, Understanding
And in Understanding, Knowledge
And in Knowledge, Truth
And in Truth, Love
And in Love, the Love of all Existence
And in that Love, the Love of Spirit and All Creation
Calling the quarters:
Different members of the grove call upon each quarter and to Ancestor.
North: Hail the fertile darkness of the North, life and light is reborn.
East: Hail the gentle breath of the East, life and light is reborn.
South: Hail the rekindled spark of the South, life and light is reborn.
West: Hail the trickling drop of the West, life and light is reborn.
The Ancestors are honoured:
Hail to those who lived before us,
Hail to those who follow us.
All see the turning of the wheel,
The endless cycle that connects us all.
Guide us to the returning light.
Grove leader guides and holds the focus of the ritual:
From the point of greatest darkness, comes the beginning of the light. Is there anything you wish to cast away into the dying darkness?
What new hopes and dreams are waiting to grow? You may wish to name them as you light your candle.
Each member of the Grove lights their candle from the central candle, speaking of their hopes and foreseen challenges for the year ahead (these candles can be relit at the celebrations throughout the year, the developing plans seen in relation to the unfolding year).
With each candle the light grows. When all candles have been lit and intentions acknowledged the candles are put out, returning to the darkness.
With visions of the planted seed, the Grove chants the Awen into the darkness.
Bread and Mead, blessed with prayer prior to the ritual, is given in offering and then shared amongst grove.
Poetry and Song perhaps with feasting and carousing!
With some words of thanks and acknowledgement, the rite is brought to an end. Members of the grove find their own words, allowing them to express their own connection.